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Communities In Schools outlines supports for Suffolk students, cites improved attendance and graduation outcomes
Summary
Communities In Schools of Hampton Roads described services in five Suffolk schools, reported improved attendance and graduation metrics for case‑managed students, and outlined funding and staffing needs to expand its site coordinator model.
Communities In Schools of Hampton Roads gave the Suffolk City School Board an overview of its Integrated Student Supports program on March 13, describing services now operating in five Suffolk schools and presenting outcome data the nonprofit says show better attendance, behavior and graduation rates for students it case‑manages.
The presentation, delivered by Dr. Hope Sinclair, executive director for Communities In Schools of Hampton Roads, said CIS served 4,415 students in Suffolk during the 2023–24 school year and directly case‑managed 353 students. "Eighty‑seven percent of those 353 students improved in attendance," she said, adding that 94% improved behaviors and 86% improved in course performance. CIS reported that all 15 seniors on its Kings Fork High School caseload graduated.
Dr. Sinclair said CIS provides site coordinators who are trained human‑services professionals working inside schools to assess needs, coordinate services and connect families with community partners. The program described three tiers of support: whole‑school initiatives, small groups and individualized one‑on‑one case management at least monthly.
Board members asked about differences in results among schools. Dr. Sinclair said a turnover in the Kings Fork Middle site coordinator caused a break in services that she believes contributed to lower gains in that school during the reviewed year. "That site coordinator transitioned, so that was a break in services as well," she said.
CIS provided a high‑level financial summary, saying a full‑time site coordinator costs $78,100 and that CIS currently provides site coordination at five Suffolk schools at a total cost of $390,500. Dr. Sinclair said Suffolk Public Schools contributes $30,000 per coordinator and CIS raises the remainder from foundations and local donors, and listed local supporters including Town Bank, Suffolk Foundation, North Suffolk Rotary Club and the Richard Bennett Trust.
Dr. Sinclair described statewide and national CIS research showing longer exposure linked to better adult earnings and tax contributions; she said national CIS work indicates four years of exposure can increase adult earnings and contribute to long‑term economic mobility.
Board members expressed support and asked how the division could expand CIS into additional schools. Dr. Sinclair said expansion typically relies on a combination of sources — Title I funds, grant dollars and philanthropic support — and reiterated the per‑coordinator cost and the need to raise roughly $48,100 per site beyond the district contribution.
The presentation closed with CIS goals for 2024–25 in Suffolk: maintain whole‑school supports in the current five schools, achieve 75% improvement among case‑managed students in attendance, behavior and course performance, and promote at least 85% of K–11 case‑managed students to the next grade level.
Board members thanked Dr. Sinclair for the presentation and the partnership.
